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If your dream is to live off-the-grid, you could be wondering how you can make your plan work. For one thing, you could be concerned about how you are going to heat and cool your home. Secondly, how you are going to maintain the electronic appliances without having constant air conditioner repair professionals visiting your house due to overloading. Luckily, there are a lot of off-the-grid options, so consider these ideas so that you can achieve your goal.
1. Solar Power
If you already have an HVAC system installed that suits your needs, you may just need to find an alternate way to power it. An alternative energy source like solar power is beneficial, accessible, and affordable for the common person. By installing solar panels either on the top of your roof or onto an open area of your property, you can reliably power your system. It can be a huge upfront investment, but it’ll be worth it in the long run since you won’t have to worry about paying an electric company for your electricity usage.
2. Gas-Powered Heating
Many heating systems are powered by gas, and this can be a good option for your off-the-grid living situation as well. To make this work, you’ll need to make sure that you have a large tank of propane on-site so that you will be able to power your heater when you need it.
3. Radiant Heating
Radiant heating uses hot water tubes buried under the floor. The heat from the water warms the floor, and that warmth then seeps through the rest of the house. It’s both a silent system and invisible, in that you don’t have radiators that you have to keep furniture away from or air outtakes that you need to keep unblocked.
4. Wind-Powered System
As mentioned above, using a standard electric heating and cooling system is possible when you’re living off the grid. If you don’t want to rely solely on solar panels, consider a wind-powered system instead.
5. Individual Propane Heaters
For smaller spaces or for an option that won’t require a massive investment, you can consider heating your home with individual propane heaters. Again, however, you will need to have plenty of gas on hand so that you can power your heaters when the temperatures plunge.
If you and your family plan to live off the grid, there are plenty of options for heating and cooling your home. Do your research, and you can determine which option will be the best for your household.
Resources
This Old House
Provincial Heating
Energy.gov
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